Playground, Grill, & Camping

Wow what a beautiful weekend. We tried out the new Project Playground at the zoo yesterday after church and WOW is the perfect word to describe it. Lots for the boys to do and I could see them well from just about any vantage point no matter where they went (something the old playground lacked). They had a ball and it looks as though on Sunday's this summer we'll be regulars there after church with a picnic lunch.

Once we got home, got the grill out and cleaned up and tried out my new charcoal chimney (one match lights the newspaper and no need for lighter fluid). Worked great so we enjoyed the first burgers/dogs outside on the deck last night as well. Of course this was after the boys spent most of the afternoon digging in the dirt under the deck looking for buried treasure. Man were they dirty! Oh well. Bath before supper and they ate their dogs and followed up with a few roasted marshmallows over the remnant coals. What a beautiful weekend God blessed us with!

Now we're in gear up mode for our annual Dads & Kids camping trip (our 4th annual) which should see us break through the 100 attendees mark easily. We'll be at a new site to accommodate the big group. Hopefully God again blesses us with nice weather.

Stone Him!

Well, the 2009 Baseball season is underway and already I miss last year. I don't get any of the sports channels so I usually only get to watch one game a weekend when its on national TV but love to listen to the games on the radio. Last year, my beloved White Sox had a great tandem of radio announcers with Ed Farmer & Steve Stone, two former Sox pitchers and both entertaining and informative. This year, Stone has switched places with Sox TV announcer, Darrin "DJ" Jackson and the broadcasts are about as exciting as when DJ was on TV (read: BORING!) Oh how I wish I could "Stone" him (as in make him a better announcer like Steve Stone)

Fidrych, Frampton & the Freedom Train

I just learned that Mark Fidrych has died in an accident on his farm. Sad news. Prayers go out for peace and comfort to his many family & friends who mourn his loss today. I never knew Mark the man, the person, the human being. I did know the "The Bird," the iconic ball player who along with Peter Frampton (and his '76 release Frampton Live) and the Bi-Centennial America's Freedom Train, became forever etched in my memory as defining artifacts of 1976. Oh yes, a peanut farmer running for President is up there too, but it was the year of "The Bird" that truly made me, a 9 year old boy, fall in love with America's game as America celebrated its 200th birthday. "Baby, I DID love your way" on the mound and you gave all of us fans, both young and old, a special summer of joy. Thanks for the memories Mark, I'll cherish them.

Sweet Baby Trey

Our newborn is 4 weeks old tonight. He spent this Thursday & Friday in St.Louis at Children's Hospital getting a shunt to relieve a hydrocephele situation in his head and came home this afternoon. He is doing very well for having just had neurosurgery yesterday. God is good, all the time! What a great place Children's Hospital is and we are very thankful for all the prayers and well wishes we've received this week. Hopefully, this shunt will resolve the issue long-term for our little boy.